Paper holding and feeding apparatus for computing machines



Dec. 30, 1941. w. A. ANDERSON PAPER HOLDING AND FEEDING APPARATU FOR COMPUTING MACHINES Filed Dec. 30, 1938 I 2 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR WALTER A. ANDERSON.

ATTORN EY w. A. ANDERSON PAPER HOLDING AND FEEDING APPARATUS FOR COMPUTING MACHINES Dec. 30, 194-1.

Filed Dec. 30, 1958 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR 7-5 WALTER 'A. ANDERSON BY )6, ATTORNEY non,

Patented Dec. 30, i941 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE I PAPER HOLDING AND FEEDING APPARATUS FOR COMPUTING MACHINES I Walter A. Anderson, Bridgeport, Conn, assignor to Underwood Elliott Fisher Company, New York, N. Y., a corporation of Delaware 30,1938, Serial No. 248,431

Application December 3 Claims.

This invention relates to computing machines, and more particularly to the paper holding and feeding apparatus thereof. This application is a continuation in part of my pending application Serial No. 150,369, filed June 25, 1937, now Patent No. 2,182,108, issued December 5, 1939.

An object of this invention is to provide a simple and rugged paper carriage particularly adapted for economic manufacture.

Another object is to provide a simple line space mechanism operable to eifect both single and double line spacing.

Another objectis to provide a carriage of this character having a simple tally roll support which may be readily adjusted to accommodate varying widths of tally rolls.

Another object is to provide a carriage of this character having a tear plate normally serving to hold the paper against the platen at the printing line.

Further objects and advantages in details of construction and simplicity of operation will be apparent as the description proceeds, reference now being had to the figures of the accompanying drawings forming part of this application, and wherein like reference numerals indicate like parts.

In the drawings:

a Figure 1 is a left side elevation of a computing machine with the improved carriage,

Figure 2 is a left side elevation of the carriage showing the line space mechanism in the position it assumes during a. single line space feeding operation,

Figure 3 is a left side elevation of the line space mechanism only, in the position it assumes during a double line space feeeing opera- Figure 4 is a left side elevation of the carriage with its cover plate attached, and showing the line space indicator,

Figure 5 is a right side elevation showing the paper release and illustrating how independent forms, such as deposit slips and the like, may be inserted without removing the tally roll,

Figure 6 is. a plan view of the improved carria Figure 7 is a front view thereof,

Figure 8 is a fragmental perspective view showing-the tear plate in normal position where it holds the paper against the platen,

a releasing lever 2i.

tating the introduction of paper around the platen, and

Figure 10 is a detail sectional view of an adjustment latch for the tally roll supports.

The invention is herein shown as embodied in a machine of the Sundstrand electrically driven type, but is not limited to machines of this character. For a detailed understanding of the machine on which the invention is shown, attention is directedto the United States Patents Nos. 1,925,735 and 1,965,611 issued to Oscar J. Sundstrand.

The frame of my improved carriage is preferably a one-piece stamping, blanked and formed with a base I (Figure '7) and upstanding sides 2 and 3, which are pierced with apertures for mounting the platen, tally roll supporting rods and appurtenant parts thereon.

Forwardly on the frame is a platen 4 (Figure 6) having flanged collars 5 secured to its opposite ends- Collars 5 are provided with set screws 6 for securing the platen to a shaft 1. Hand knobs 8 are fixed on opposite ends of the platen shaft by screws II, and a toothed ratchet wheel 1 I2 is secured to the shaft adjacent sides 2 by a peragainst the platen under the tension of a' spring l5 secured at one end to a pin it (Figure 5) on the cradle and to a lug l'l struck upwardly from base I.

Cradle I4 is loosely mounted upon a tie rod i8 (Figure 6) secured between sides 2 and 3 by screws such as 19 (see Figure 2 for showing of left screw I9); Rearwardly extending lugs 20 formed on cradle it are adapted to overlie wardly as at 22 (Figures 5 and '7) and provided Figure 9 is a view similar to Figure8 but with the tear plate manipulated to position for faciliwith a finger rod 23 on its right end. In assembling, releasing lever 2| is passed through slots 24 (Figures 2 and 5) provided in sides 2 and 3 or frame I. These slots are formed with their mid portions narrow to provide bearings for the pivotal movement of releasing lever 2|,

and with their end portions wide to allow such pivotal movement. A screw 25 (Figure 6) is secured in lever 2| adjacent side 3 to maintain the lever in its assembled position.

By this construction, rearward pressure on finger rod 23 (Figure 5) rocks cradle l4 counterclockwise on rod i8 against the tension of spring l5, moving rollers 13 away from the laten to The releasing lever is pref-' erably made of a flat strip of metal bent upfacilitate insertion or adjustment of the paper. when pressure upon finger rod 23 is removed, spring I restores cradle i4 and lever 2| to their normal position shown in Figure 5.

A .paper guide 26 (Figures 2 and 5) for directing the paper from the supply roll to the platen is mounted rearwardly of the platen. This guide 26 is preferably a one-piece stamping having a width substantially the same as the space between side members 2 and 3. Guide 26 is bent over as at 21 (Figures 2 and 7) along its upper edge to form a hook which embraces a pair of inwardly projecting studs 28 riveted to sides 2 and 3. Flanges 25 (Figures 2 and 5) are formed on both ends of the guide 26 adjacent .its lower edge. These flanges are pierced to receive screws l9 anchored in the ends of tie rod' I8, thus securing the guide 28 as well as rod I8. It will be noted that in the above method of assembly, tie rod l8 and screws I9 serve the threefold purpose of bracing side members 2 and 3, supporting cradle l4 and anchoring paper guide 28.

' A pair of laterallyadjustable tally roll supports 35 are slidably mounted upon two rods 3| and 31 (Figures 5 and 6) secured rearwardly of paper guide 26. Supports 3|) are formed at their forward ends with projections 32 which guide the paper as it passes from the tally roll to the platen. The sides of the supports serve as lateral guides for the tally paper during the feeding thereof. The lower forward ends of projections 32 (Figure 5) terminate at a sufficient distance to the rear of the platen so that forms such as deposit slips and the like, indicatedat I0, may be readily inserted at the rear of the platen.

In assembling the tally roll supports 38 on the carriage, rod 3| is first passed through a neatly fitting hole in sidemember 3, and is then passed through sleeves 34 secured to tally roll supports 38. A reduced end 35 of rod 3| is then inserted in a suitably sized hole cut in side plate 2. A screw stud 36 is then inserted in the end of rod 3| to secure the parts in position. In like manner, a second rod 31, passing through suitable apertures in supports 3|), is secured by ascrew 38 rearwardly of and below rod 3| (Figure 2).

Cylindrical studs 33 of a size to fit snugly within the tally roll core are riveted to the inner sides of supports 3|) for mounting the roll. fit between the studs and the core provides sufflcient friction to preclude superfluous unwinding of the paper as it is fed.

Annular grooves 39 are cut in rod 3| at-spaced points corresponding to the different widths of tally rolls to be used. Sleeves 34 are'slotted on their upper and lower sides as at 40 and 4|, respectively, (Figure slots 48 being deeper than slots 4|, and having their bases flush with the bases of grooves 39 in rod 3|. U-shapedsprings 42 are inserted in the slots.40 and 4| as shown in Figure 10, slot 4| preferably being peened or otherwise upset against the lower leg of the spring to hold the spring in place, leaving the upper leg thereof free to flex and latch within grooves 38.

When changing from a tally roll of one width to one of another, the operator need only pull supports 30 toward or away from each other, out of their latched engagement with one set of grooves and into engagement with the other set,

thus effecting a quick and easy lateral adjust- The snug accuse oted at its upper end to the side 2 by a screw 44. A projection 45 extends inwardly from the lower end of the arm, and is adapted to be operated by a reciprocating slide 48 (Figure 1). An actuating lever 41 of the computing machine,

1 having a pin-and-slot connection with slide 46,

causes the slide to reciprocate during every cycle, thus oscillating arm 43 about screw 44 A feed pawl 48, preferably formed of a single stamping, is pivoted at 48 to the lower end of arm 43. A lug 50, struck outwardly from the pawl, engages the teeth of ratchet wheel I2. An upwardly and forwardly extending projection 5| of feed pawl 48 is beveled at 52 and lies in the plane of a collar 53 on shaft 1 between ratchet 2 and side member 2 of the frame (Figure 7).

A horizontally disposed retainer 54 (Figure 2) is pivoted at one end on screw 44, and carries at its opposite end a roller 55 which rests onthe teeth of ratchet wheel |2. A spring 56, secured at one end to retainer 54, and at its opposite end to pawl 48, serves the dual purpose of tensioning roller 55 into engagement with the teeth of ratchet wheel H and urging beveled edge 52 upwardly against collar 53.

When the machine is at rest as shown in Figure 1, slide 46 and lever 43 are in their forward positions wherein beveled edge 52, by virtue of its engagement with collar 53, holds pawl 48 out of engagement with the teeth of the ratchet wheel. Hence, the platen is free to be rotated in either direction by hand knobs 8 when the parts are in their normal position.

A lever 58 pivoted on screw is arranged to control the action of pawl 48 in the following manner, for single or double line spacing. Lever 58 carries an inwardly projecting pin 59 lying in the path of a beveled edge 60 formed on the rear end of pawl 48. This lever is movable to two positions and is held in either position by a detent 6| pivoted on screw 38. A spring 62, connected. between the detent and screw stud 36, holds either of two notches in the detent in engagment with a stud 63 secured in lever 58. A finger rod 64 fixed on the lever facilitates adjustment from one notch to the other.

During each cycle of the machine slide 46 (Figure 1) moves arm 43 rearwardly, causing beveled edge 6|) to strike pin 53 and cam pawl 48 clockwise about its pivot, so that lug 50 is moved out of engagement with the teeth of the ratchet wheel. Subsequent forward movement of lever 43 allows lug 5|) to rise and engage the ratchet wheel in time to advance the platen a single line space before beveled edge 52 cams pawl 48 out of-engagement with the ratchet wheel. Roller 55 retains the platen in its adjusted position.

When lever 58 is moved from the position shown in Figure 2 to that shown in Figure 3, pin 53 is swung out of the path of beveled edge 60. Now, when arm 43 moves rearwardly, lug 50 is permitted to remain engaged with the ratchet wheel, so that upon forward movement of lever 43 the platen is advanced two line spaces.

It will be noted that the paper feed and retainer mechanism is comprised of a minimum number of parts which are assembled upon the frame by means of the single screw 44. The

screw is threaded in side member 2 and spaced to permit pivotal action of retainer 54, arm 43 and lever 58, suitable bushings being provided between these parts as clearly shown in Figure 6. A look nut 65 secures screw 44 in proper position.

A suitable index reading 1" "2 is provided on lever 58 to indicate its position. The indicium 1" or "2" is viewed through an aperture 66 provided in a left casing 61 as shown in Figure 4. Casing 61 and likewise a right casing 68 (Figures 4, 5 and 6) are each provided with suitable apertures through which the finger rods 64 and 23 extend. These casings'are provided with brackets (Figure 6) that are secured to the sides 2 and 3 by screws H to hold the casings in place.

A tear plate I2 (Figures 2, 8 and 9) is pivotally mounted between side members 2 and 3 on screws 13 threaded in the side members and having reduced ends which extend into apertures provided in flanges 14 on the tear plate. The

tear plate is preferably of heavy stock and is serrated along its upper edge to facilitate the tearing of the tally strip. When the plate is in its normal position (Figure 8), its weight bends the paper around the platen, so that the portion of the paper at the printing line rests-against the platen. This reduces the noise caused by the type striking the paper. This bending of the paper is also efie'ctive to direct the used portion toward the rear of the machine.

When the operator desires to introduce a new tally strip around the platen, it is merely necessary to swing the tear plate, by a flip of the finger, upwardly from the position shown in Figure 8 to that shown in Figure 9. This moves the lower edge 0! the'tear plate away from the platen, so that the leading edge of the new strip can be readily inserted between the platen and the tear plate.

Spaced lugs 15 (Figures 1 and 7), struck upwardly from the forward edge of base -I, hook under a projection of the machine bed and cooperate with screws 16 to hold the carriage on the machine. Screws 1'6 pass through openings in depressed portions 11, of frame I,- that fit within a channel I8 in the machine frame.

It is apparent from the foregoing that I have provided a simple and durable paper carriage, and one which may be easily assembled.

While the form of mechanism herein shown and describedis admirably adapted to fulfill the objects primarily stated, it is to be understood that it .is not intended to confine the invention to the one form of embodiment herein disclosed, for it is susceptible of embodiment in various forms, all coming within the scope of the claims which follow.

What is claimed is:

1. A paper holding and feeding apparatus for computing machines comprising a frame having upstanding side members, a platen rotatably mounted in the side members, a ratchet wheel adapted to rotate with the platen, paper feed means for advancing the platen by engagement with the ratchet wheel, retaining means engaging the ratchet wheel for holding the platen in advanced position, manipulative means adjust-' able to control the paper feed means as to the extent of feed imparted by it, and common means for pivotally seeming the paper feed means and.

retaining means to the frame, and for pivoting the manipulative means for its adjusting movement.

2. A paper holding and feeding apparatus for computing machines comprising a frame having upstanding side members, a platen having a shaft rotatably mounted in the side members, a ratchet wheel adapted to rotate with the platen, paper feed means carrying a pawl adapted to engage said ratchet wheel to advance the platen, retaining means for holding the platen in advanced position, a spring tensioning the pawl and the retaining means into operative engagement with the ratchet wheel, and means on said pawl cooperating with a member on the platen shaft to cam the pawl out of operative engagement with said ratchet wheel after advancement of the platen.

3. In a line spacing mechanism for computing chines, the combination with a rotatable platen and ratchet wheel rotatable therewith, of an arm having a pawl pivoted thereon for cooperation with said-ratchet wheel in line spacing the platen, spring means yieldingly urging said pawl into engagement with said wheel, means for imparting reciprocating movement to said pawl to advance the platen a plurality of line spaces, a manually adjustable member movable to two p0 sitions, means on one end of the pawl cooperating with another part of the machine to effect its disengagement from the ratchet wheel in its movement in one direction, and means on the opposite end of the pawl cooperating with said manually adjustable member, in one of its ppsitions', to efiect disengagement of the pawl from the ratchet wheel in its movement in the opposite direction to limit the time of engagement of the pawl with the ratchet wheel, and thereby limit the line spacing action of the pawl to a single line space.

WALTER A. ANDERSON.

- Patent No. 2,267,886

CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION.

December 50, 1914.1. WALTER A ANDERSON.

It is hereby certified that error appears in the printed specification of the above numbered patent requiring correction as follows: Page 3, sec- 0nd column, line 51, claimfi, for "chines'Y read -"-'machines. and that the said Letters Patent should be read with this correction therein that the same may conform to the record of the case in the Patent Office.

Signed and sealed this 17th day of February, A. D. 19h2.

Henry Van Arsdal e,

(Seal) Acting Commissioner of Patents. 

